British Premier May Fends off Tory Rebels in Parliament

Merle Christensen

Significantly, she called for a three-way referendum-offering voters a choice of Brexit with whatever deal Theresa May secures, Brexit with no deal, or remaining in the EU. She was saved by Labour eurosceptic MPs.

She was slated to face more votes yesterday, including one on a proposal to send lawmakers on holiday early in what is seen as a tactic to avoid more plotting against her.

But he says he hopes more like-minded Conservative MPs will find the courage to resist supporters of a so-called "hard brexit" represented by the European Research Group. It was bolstered by the support of four pro-Brexit opposition Labour Party MPs.

Brexit will be the focus of intense scrutiny from the other political parties.

The amendment from former minister Stephen Hammond would have forced the United Kingdom to default to membership of the EU's customs union if it proved unable to negotiate a better agreement by January 21 of next year.

"This white paper is a weak-kneed response to European Union because the prime minister is trying to fit it around what she thinks the European Union will accept".

Another pro-Brexit organization, Leave.EU, was fined 70,000 pounds ($92,000) in the spring for overspending and filing inaccurate records.

May's vulnerability in parliament, where she lost her Conservative Party's majority in an ill-judged election past year, was laid bare on Monday, when her decision to accept demands of pro-Brexit lawmakers stirred a rebellion among those who want to keep the closest possible ties in the EU.

The British government wants to retain the ability to sign trade deals independently of the EU.

Tuesday was also the second day running May faced revolt from backbench Tory lawmakers after they failed on Monday by three votes to enact changes to a crucial post-Brexit customs bill.

Tory whips told would-be rebels that there would be a confidence vote if the customs amendment had passed on the Trade Bill, potentially resulting in the collapse of Mrs May's Government. Eight officials have quit since that summit, including two very high-profile Leave advocates, David Davis and Boris Johnson.

While critics have said accepting the changes to the legislation mean the prime minister's recently announced Chequers deal was "dead in the water", Mrs May insisted this was "absolutely wrong" and that the changes were "consistent" with her plan.

"These nonsenses of threatening general elections, and votes of confidence in the prime minister. bring it on, because I shall be the first in the queue to give my vote of full confidence in the prime minister", Soubry said.

The border is a major sticking point in the Brexit negotiations, with solving the question of how to keep the free flow of movement across the 310-mile frontier between Northern Ireland and the Republic a key aspect of the talks. Labour has previously abstained on some Brexit legislation votes, but ahead of Monday's vote on the European Union tariffs amendment changed its vote to one of opposing the hard-Brexit amendment.

SDLP MLA Claire Hanna said Monday night had made the likelihood of no deal Brexit "one step closer".

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